Mug

Poem:Mug

I couldn’t believe my eyes

and I nearly flipped my lid

They wanted to charge

for coffee that cost

more than four quid?

A disgrace and a scandal

The ceramic mug it came in did not even have a handle!

To have and to hold?

Clearly, I’ve been mis sold

Never to return

A bitter beverage lesson that I had to learn

I don’t like being taken for a mug!

 

Review: Mug

Whoa poet what a strong message I’m getting here!

You sound heated and extremely offended.

But it’s only coffee, right?

Perhaps you need a cold compress on your forehead.

It’s as though the establishment that you have brought your custom to is purposely mocking you! No handles and it’s pricey? That’s not on is it? Especially if you are used to having a hot drink in a cup or mug with handles first thing in the morning.

Could it be that this coffee shop is new and you’re trying it out of curiosity? You know what that did to the feline creatures amongst us? Being inquisitive isn’t always a good move is it if the outcome is ‘toast’ and you becoming it? Ouch! Think about it. Read the scene poet, read it! Save yourself from the avoidable. Well, you know of that well known saying “Don’t judge a book by its cover? In this instance… DO! Do judge! Do judge, Do! If there are clues of pomposity, pretentiousness and its dripping in desperation on the outside of establishment with its communications? Chances are you’ll find clues inside with its interior design and music choices before you even get to the coffee, let alone anything else that’s potentially on the menu. Like there being ‘something or other’, smooshed or smashed on a slice of sourdough toast and no doubt with the option of being seated outside ‘kerbside’ all year round! (I’ll leave that thought alone for now, along with the London bus fumes) Another story for another time.

Another scenario is that you know of this place and as a customer you are used to it BUT they’ve changed their ways and they haven’t mentioned anything to its customers and have just sprung it on them?

That certainly isn’t very welcoming, is it? At this stage, do you even get a whiff of the freshly brewed enticing coffee aroma playfully tickling your nostrils? Thinking about it, that would probably have made your experience worse, especially if you needed that caffeine fix? Hmm. But don’t take it personally. Calm down please poet and rid yourself of the shakes. Perhaps try a camomile tea instead for a change? I’ve heard it’s good for many ills, including stomach aches and anxiety. But I think it’s asking a bit too much of the superhero of a herbal tea to right all the wrongs of cultural beverage blunders.  And yes, I do see it as a blunder

You couldn’t believe what you were seeing dear poet.

Sounds like you had already placed your order and then you read the price list of the coffees available. An abrupt price hike? A disruption to your daily ritual? In shock, it appears that you were. It does beg the questions, “Why on earth is there so much choice?” What has happened culturally for this to be the case?

I’ve done a spot of research to get my British head around this ‘tampered with coffee faux pas’ It appears that coffee and tea are drunk in in this way in South East Asian countries and some Northen European countries too. Why no handles? Well, it could be said that these cups are not meant to be filled up to the brim therefore allowing a cool place to hold the cup nearer the top. I gave it a go myself with a handleless porcelain cup of my own and it does indeed make sense, sure. I feel very zen like. Phew, that didn’t take long now did it? Do I still view it as a blunder made by the coffee shop? Well, YES! because it was the coffee shop’s way of attempting to be trendy by copying other cultures from abroad and sticking a hefty price and some wall art saying ‘BRICK LANE’ For all I care it could be ‘The little boy who lives down the Lane’ (courtesy of baa baa black sheep) And have those words in a fancy font in a frame hanging on the wall. That’ll look just as cool wouldn’t it (!) … (Brick Lane, hmm, that’s another story for another time. Don’t get me started!) Anyway, back to review…and then all will believe that it is trendy, will acquiesce, go along with it and not think to even question the mug and the price, right? WRONG!

I, for one do question it and I’m sure I’m not the only one!

The title of the poem ‘Mug’ and the conclusion of using the word ‘mug’ with how the poet does not appreciate being taken for a fool, is a powerful way of using the same word twice and impactful with getting the message across.

I thank the poet for bringing my attention to it! That’s the power of art! What is said by the work that’s created by artists cannot be ignored. It’s a great talking point to get important messages across. It appears to me that the coffee shop has succeeded in being pretentious and patronising!

I’ll keep well away from it and invite the poet to join me in a conversation drinking

coffee from a flask in the park. I think that’s the future. A new coffee culture for all.